Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

​Cleobulus, son of Evagoras, was a native of Lindus, but according to Duris, a Carian; some say that he traced his descent back to Heracles. He excelled in bodily strength and beauty, and gained a share of the philosophy in Egypt. He had a daughter, Cleobulina, a composer of riddles in hexameters, of whom Cratinus also makes mention in his play of the same name, entitling it in the plural. It is also said that he restored the temple of Athena founded by Danaus. He composed songs and riddles to the extent of three thousand verses. Some say that he also composed the epitaph on Midas: “A bronze maiden am I, and on Midas’ tomb I lie. So long as water flows and tall trees blossom,”

“ and the rising sun shines, and the bright moon, and rivers run, and the sea washes the shore, abiding here upon this much-lamented tomb, I shall announce to passers-by that Midas lies buried here.” As evidence they bring forward a song of Simonides, wherein he says: “Who that relies on understanding would praise Cleobulus, dweller in Lindus, who set the strength of a stele against ever-flowing streams, and spring flowers, and the flame of the sun and the golden moon, and the eddies of the sea? For all things are inferior to the gods; and stone even mortal hands shatter; a foolish mortal’s counsel is this.” For, they say, the epitaph cannot be Homer’s, since Homer preceded Midas by many years. There is also recorded an enigma of his in the Memoranda of Pamphila, running thus:

“The father is one, the sons twelve. And to each of them are twice thirty daughters, of diverse appearance; some are white to behold, while others again are black; and though they are immortal, they all waste away and die.” This is the year. Among the verses recited of his, the following were well esteemed: Lack of culture is the greater part among mortals, and a multitude of words; but the right measure will suffice. Think on something good. Let not one become vain and graceless. He said that daughters should be given in marriage when they are maidens in age, but women in understanding, thus indicating that maidens too must be educated. He also said that one ought to benefit a friend so that he may become more of a friend, and make an enemy into a friend; for one should guard against the censure of friends

​and the plotting of enemies. And whenever someone goes out of his house, let him first inquire what he is about to do; and when he enters again, let him inquire what he has done. He also advised: exercise the body well; be fond of listening rather than fond of talking; [be fond of learning rather than unlearned;] keep an auspicious tongue; be familiar with virtue, a stranger to vice; shun injustice; offer the best advice to one's city; master pleasure; do nothing by force; educate children; dissolve enmity. Neither fondle one’s wife nor quarrel with her in the presence of strangers, for the one signifies folly, the other madness. Do not punish a servant over wine, for you will seem to act outrageously under the influence of drink. Marry from among your equals; for if you take a wife from among your superiors, he says,

​you will acquire masters instead of kinsmen. Do not laugh at those who are mocked, for you will incur their hatred. When prospering, be not haughty; when in want, do not abase yourself. Know how to bear nobly the turns of fortune. He died at an advanced age, having lived seventy years; and upon him was inscribed: “The wise man Cleobulus, departed in death, is mourned by this his native Lindus, exulting in the sea.” His apothegm was: “Moderation is best.” And he wrote to Solon as follows: Cleobulus to Solon “Many comrades indeed you have, and a home everywhere; but I say that Lindus, governed as a democracy, would be the most desirable home for Solon. The island also lies in the open sea, where to one living there is no danger from Pisistratus; and your comrades will come to you from all sides.”